Pistons Use Balanced Effort to Take Game 1 vs. Cavaliers
Cade Cunningham scored 23 points and Jalen Duren sparked a late run as Detroit snapped an NBA-record-tying 12-game playoff skid against Cleveland.
- On Tuesday, May 5, 2026, the top-seeded Detroit Pistons defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 111-101 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at Little Caesars Arena.
- Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff led his team to victory against his former employer, ending Detroit's 12-game postseason losing streak against Cleveland dating to 2007.
- After Cleveland tied the game 93-93 with 5:28 remaining, Detroit responded with an 18-8 closing run, capitalizing on a 13-8 turnover advantage to seal the victory.
- Detroit holds a 1-0 series lead heading into Game 2 on Thursday, May 7, in Detroit, while Cleveland guards Sam Merrill exited with a left hamstring injury.
- The best-of-seven series continues as both teams compete for a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals, with the first team to win four games advancing.
82 Articles
82 Articles
Detroit Pistons Hang on to Early Lead, Take Game 1 Over Cleveland
Photo: Rick Osentoski May 6, 2026 ~ Detroit Pistons’ forward Ron Holland talks to the media after Wednesday’s practice following a Game 1 Eastern Conference semifinals win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.DETROIT, MICH. ~ The 1-seed Detroit Pistons started off Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals strong, and ended the same way in a 111-101 win over the 4-seed Cleveland Cavaliers at Little Caesars Arena Tuesday night. The Pistons gain…
Cade Cunningham scored 23 points, Tobias Harris 20, and the Detroit Pistons beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 111-101 on Tuesday night in Game 1 of their second-round series.
The Pistons Are Getting Down To Business
The Detroit Pistons won Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series Tuesday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers, 111–101. The home team took control in the first quarter, smashing and bashing their way into the paint and forcing the involvement of the game's referees. The Pistons responded to a lot of fun and zippy off-ball stuff from the Cavaliers by running fast and having large shoulders, and it worked: Detroit took 12 free throws i…
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